Could Criterion Cinemas Spell The End Of York Square?

The York Square, which has been on Broadway since 1970, plays art films and sub run material. The film companies do not give them access to first run product. The York Square has filed a suit against the motion picture industry to attempt to force them to provide first run films, but it likely will fail.

This month, the five screen state-of-the-art Criterion Cinemas opened in downtown New Haven. It will also play art films. Is there enough of an art film market in a mid-sized city such as New Haven for two art films, or will the new Criterion spell the end of the downtrodden but venerable York Square?